Hardwood Flooring in Chili, NY

Hardwood Flooring in Chili covers two kinds of homes: the suburban houses that came with the town's growth after World War II, and the older farmhouses and hamlet homes that were here long before. Chili's population went from 5,283 in 1950 to 11,237 in 1960, a 112.7% increase, and reached 19,609 by 1970. Plenty of houses from those decades still have their original solid hardwood, and refinishing it is usually the first option to look at.

From Chili Center to the rural south

Chili Center is the town seat and its most built-up area. North Chili, in the northwest, is home to Roberts Wesleyan University. South Chili, along the Thruway, and the small hamlet of Clifton in the south are more rural. The Genesee River forms part of the town's eastern border, and Black Creek runs through the middle past Black Creek Park. The mix means we see everything from compact postwar ranch floors to wide old boards in a farmhouse.

Refinishing a postwar floor

For a house from the 1950s or 1960s, a refinish usually goes like this:

• Pull carpet, pad and tack strip if the floor is covered
• Set any raised nails and secure loose boards
• Sand in several passes, edges and corners included
• Fill nail holes and small cracks
• Stain if you want a color change, after testing on your floor
• Apply multiple coats of finish with light abrading between coats

If the existing finish is intact and the wood is not worn through, a screen and recoat may be all you need.

Older farmhouse floors need a lighter hand

Chili was established on February 22, 1822, and some homes in the rural parts of town are much older than the subdivisions. Floors in those houses may be softwood or wide-plank boards that have been sanded many times, painted at the edges or covered with layers of later flooring. We check board thickness and face nailing before any machine touches them, and sometimes recommend a gentler sanding or a recoat over an aggressive sand that could expose tongues or nail heads.

Moisture, winter dryness and the garage entry

The Rochester area averages about 102 inches of snow per year, much of it lake-effect, and a January daily mean of 26.2°F. Heated indoor air dries wood out, opening small gaps in winter that usually close in the humid months. Many Chili houses are entered through the garage, and meltwater and road salt tracked in there wear the finish in the first few feet of the floor. In lower levels and homes near the creek or the river, we test moisture before laying any wood, since excess moisture causes cupping later.

Lead-safe planning

Much of Chili's housing went up before 1978, the year the EPA uses for its Renovation, Repair and Painting rule on disturbing lead-based paint. We talk through painted trim at the estimate and plan to leave it undisturbed wherever possible.

New floors, stairs and patches

We also install solid and engineered hardwood, replace damaged boards with matched strips, and refinish or replace stair treads. About 75.9% of Chili homes are owner-occupied, and many owners take floors one level at a time. We can quote it that way. Call (585) 632-6150 or

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